Community Magazine September 2019

Elul 5779 September 2019 53 Carpool & Transportation If your child is in a carpool or will be going on a bus, you need to inform the other carpool moms and the bus company of your child’s allergy. Be sure to tell the bus driver to please make sure to be cautious that no one is eating on the bus. Most bus companies have a strict rule about no food on the bus. Let the bus driver know to have extra eyes out for this. If your child is in carpool, create a group chat with the mothers and help them by reminding them of your child’s allergies so there’s an open line of communication in case anyone has a question. Benadryl and EpiPens Never forget to send your child with their Benadryl and EpiPens! Those should go wherever your children go. On that note, be sure to also train anyone that is going to be responsible for your child in how to use your child’s EpiPen. This doesn’t have to be scary. The AUVI-Q auto injector happens to be a helpful device for this because it actually speaks to you and tells you the instructions on how to use it, which hopefully won’t be necessary. Most of the time, people just need to know exactly what your situation is. Create carpool safety rules and let the kids know what the rules are. It’s important to speak to your children about food allergies. Food allergies are very common now, and the more knowledge we as parents share, the more understanding the children will be. Snacks, Snacks, Snacks Whatever you do, always be sure your child has backup snacks with them! This can come in handy, especially in situations such as after school programs. If your child is young and has multiple allergies, offer to buy snacks for special events and after school activities. Again, this is where group chats with the mothers is key. Use them to your advantage. Go out of your way to help out in any way you can. Send your child’s school a list of snacks that are safe for your child. For example, Wise brand snacks are all sesame and nut-free. This can help the parents be more aware, and will help to take the guessing game out of shopping for school snacks. Try and give your number out to the class so if they have questions about a snack, they can text you a picture of the snack and the ingredients label. This will go a long way. When people are open to helping you out, they see that it’s less of an inconvenience than they would think. Lunch Paulette suggests, if possible, choosing a school that is accommodating to your child’s allergies. Some schools provide lunch that is nut- and sesame-free. This is the ideal situation, as it takes a lot of stress off your shoulders and your child’s as well. If your child has multiple allergies, I would recommend first trying to work with the school to find suitable options to serve your child. If you simply cannot find safe options for your child, it’s best to send your own lunch every day. Paulette doesn’t believe in sitting allergic children at a separate table. Every single action can have a profound effect on children. What she recommends is to seat the child next to their closest friends and let them know not to share, touch, or give them anything. It’s also good to teach them to be clean, and wash their hands right after they eat. These are great ways to keep the kids feeling included and safe. Be Considerate of Emotions As important as it is to take these precautions to keep your child safe, it’s equally as important to keep a lot of the “work” of it under wraps from your child. You never want your child to think they are a burden, so always have a positive attitude when it comes to their allergies. Their emotional well-being should come hand in hand with keeping them physically safe. Keep that communication going throughout the year and make sure to check in with them often. It’s normal for children to go through a stage of feeling different or left out because of their allergies. Most of the time, a good heart to heart with their parents can fix this. If you suspect anything negative is going on in school, such as bullying or someone making fun of your child’s allergies, contact the school principal and guidance counselor right away. A Note from The Nut Job Mom To any parent reading this, whether you understand what it’s like to have a child with food allergies or not, please keep in mind that we did not choose this. Hashemgives everyonewhat they can handle and we are just trying to keep our children safe and happy just like you are. Please be respectful and understanding, especially if there is a child with food allergies in your child’s class. If you do, your children will follow suit, and hopefully it will help make this easier for all! Allergy-Friendly Snack Brands to Look Out For: Enjoy Life Skinny Pop School Safe Jell-O That’s it MadeGood Wise